Germany invades France

After WWI, France built the Maginot Line – a fortified line of bunkers/guns along the border with GermanyFrance waited here for German attack in 1940.Germany went around through the Netherlands and Belgium – invaded France there.

Once Germany invades France…

British and French troops moved to the invasion site but became trapped in Northern France.Germany halted the attack for 3 days –which gave the stranded troops at chance to be rescued.More than 300,000 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk, France to England. BUT the vehicles and equipment were left behind (120,000 vehicles, 90,000 rifles)

France surrenders

By June of 1940, France has surrendered to Germany. The surrender is signed in the same train car where German surrendered to France in 1918.

Germany controls most of France’s Atlantic coast and all of N. France

Germany sets up a “puppet govt.” at Vichy in Southern France. This is called the “Vichy Govt.” and the leader is Petain.

GB and Germany

After France’s surrender, only GB is left fighting against Hitler. (Australia and Canada fought with GB) GB’s prime minister, Winston Churchill gives a stirring speech, (464)…”we will never surrender”Purpose of speech? Get British people fired up and to stir up US sympathy.

Hitler plans to invade GB

Hitler hopes to invade GB but needs to cross the English Channel to bring vehicle and ground troops in.He decides to use the air force (Luftwaffe) to bomb England and LondonThis air war (called the Battle of Britain) started in the summer of 1940.

Battle of Britain

For months the Luftwaffe dropped bombs on England and the city of London.

Hitler hoped the large civilian deaths/damages in London would force GB to surrender

The bombing of London was also called the “blitz” – for months, citizens would go to the subways and spend the night there.

The RAF saves England

The British air Force (RAF: Royal Air Force) used radar to detect incoming German planes.

2000 pilots (25% were from Poland, Canada & US) helped shoot down over 1700 German planes.

Hitler called off the invasion in October 1940 – random bombing occurred throughout the war.